Opinion

The rise of remote work has changed the face of business, and in some cases brightened the outlook for employees weary of battling traffic during morning and late-afternoon commutes. Many of those employees hope their companies will stick with this new work-from-home reality even after the pandemic is nothing more than an unhappy memory. But despite the […]

We Americans have long prided ourselves on offering a safe haven to people seeking refuge from conflict and repression. The theme is inscribed on the Statue of Liberty: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” Refugees have contributed immeasurably to American life. They include world-changing figures like Albert Einstein and

For more than a year, our state, and indeed the world, has been fighting against a pandemic in a way that has not been seen in over a century. This time, we have the benefit of countless experienced and professional medical personnel to guide us through it. Doctors, nurses, EMS workers, custodial staff, and many more employees

There is a fight going on over the heart of our democracy, and I worry that democracy is losing. Over the last few months, several states have moved decisively to make it harder for their citizens to vote, and more are on tap. It’s hard to tell yet whether this is just a blip or an actual

Once again, New York has found itself on the bottom of several major tax rankings, highlighting why so many residents have left the state and why our economic recovery will be an uphill climb. According to a report from the Tax Foundation, New York has the worst Tax Freedom Day — a hypothetical day that represents how

The phrase “the common good” and its importance in our history has always impressed me. I’ve been wondering about the history of the idea — where it comes from, what it means, and the impact it has. The concept goes back a long way. Aristotle wrote about forming governments to achieve security, justice, and other benefits for

After a delay lasting a week longer than the due date demanded of us by state law, legislators recently passed the state budget mostly along party lines in Albany. With a $212 billion total, an all-time high due to pandemic spending paid for by federal deficits, it was an epic blowout.  There are undoubtedly some smart things to

I have always been impressed that the preamble to the Constitution begins, “We the People of the United States.” We’ve heard the phrase so often that we don’t even stop to think about it. But as the proposed constitution was being debated in 1787, there were people who did — notably, Patrick Henry, who in a famous speech

But more must be done for industry New York small-business owners and employees received some long-awaited good news recently from Albany as two burdensome restrictions hampering restaurants and bars were eliminated. The state legislature successfully rescinded one of Gov. Cuomo’s executive orders that required customers to purchase food whenever ordering an alcoholic beverage. After legislators announced their